PESHAWAR: A consultative session on ‘qualitative analysis of higher education in Pakistan: challenges and recommendations’ was held at the Institute of Management Sciences (IMSciences), Peshawar.

It was attended by senior academicians, vice-chancellors, Higher Education Commission officials, faculty and civil society representatives, according to a press release issued here on Wednesday.

During the course of the session, different challenges faced by the higher education in the country were discussed and respective recommendations were proposed.

The session called for a constitutional amendment whereby four per cent of the total GDP would be allocated to education out of which one per cent would be allotted to the higher education sector. This would ensure autonomy of universities and an independent review of policies pertaining to the higher education sector.

The consultative workshop was presided over by former acting chairman HEC and former vice chancellor University of Engineering & Technology, Peshawar, Engr Imtiaz Gilani.

National coordinator inter-university consortium, Murtaza Noor shared the objectives of the dialogue while director general quality assurance HEC, Farmanullah Anjum shed light on the challenges being faced by the higher education sector in Pakistan and the importance of collaborative efforts by the stakeholders.

The participants appreciated the merit-based appointment of the reputed academician, Dr Tariq Banuri as chairperson of HEC and hoped that his appointment would be greatly helpful in addressing the problems now facing the higher education sector.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2018